Most likely a piece of junk that will get shot down on its first 'stealth' mission over a target with semi-decent SAM coverage. Not worried in the least.

Right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

- Thucydides

There is a modern myth that people have always tended towards democracy, constitutions, electoral rights; but in truth, love of freedom has never been the predominant note of popular politics. At most times, popular demand has been for a strong government.

Most likely a piece of junk that will get shot down on its first 'stealth' mission over a target with semi-decent SAM coverage. Not worried in the least.

It has to get into the sky first.

Met the ghost of Stephen Foster at the Hotel Paradise
This is what I told him as I gazed into his eyes
Ships are made for sinking, whisky made for drinking
If we were made of cellophane we'd all get stinking drunk much faster...

Right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

- Thucydides

There is a modern myth that people have always tended towards democracy, constitutions, electoral rights; but in truth, love of freedom has never been the predominant note of popular politics. At most times, popular demand has been for a strong government.

Met the ghost of Stephen Foster at the Hotel Paradise
This is what I told him as I gazed into his eyes
Ships are made for sinking, whisky made for drinking
If we were made of cellophane we'd all get stinking drunk much faster...

Not to mention that save for its STOVL version, it has no real niche that is not accomplished by other aircraft like the F-22, A-10, FA-18, F-16, etc. All of those do what the F-35 does, but better at their individual roles. They want a jack-of-all-trades fighter and have, as expected, produced a piece of crap.

Hell, I'd take a Eurofighter or a Rafale over an F-35.

Right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

- Thucydides

There is a modern myth that people have always tended towards democracy, constitutions, electoral rights; but in truth, love of freedom has never been the predominant note of popular politics. At most times, popular demand has been for a strong government.

The jet is almost certainly a fake, or at best a dream mock-up of something they do not have.

It's part of the latest propaganda push by Ahmadinejad. Remember the monkey is space thing?

---------- Post added 2013-02-13 at 05:04 PM ----------

Because it's horrifically expensive, years late, and doesn't even work.

From what I'm reading it has high maintenance costs, but those may be brought down with additional development. But the performance of the aircraft seems to meet the expectations.

Met the ghost of Stephen Foster at the Hotel Paradise
This is what I told him as I gazed into his eyes
Ships are made for sinking, whisky made for drinking
If we were made of cellophane we'd all get stinking drunk much faster...

From what I'm reading it has high maintenance costs, but those may be brought down with additional development. But the performance of the aircraft seems to meet the expectations.

As I said, save for the STOVL function it has no niche which is not already filled by an aircraft that does it better.

Right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

- Thucydides

There is a modern myth that people have always tended towards democracy, constitutions, electoral rights; but in truth, love of freedom has never been the predominant note of popular politics. At most times, popular demand has been for a strong government.

As I said, save for the STOVL function it has no niche which is not already filled by an aircraft that does it better.

That's too bad. It's much prettier than those older jets like the F/A-18. Seems like its stealth capability looks much better than other multi-role fighters.

Met the ghost of Stephen Foster at the Hotel Paradise
This is what I told him as I gazed into his eyes
Ships are made for sinking, whisky made for drinking
If we were made of cellophane we'd all get stinking drunk much faster...

That's too bad. It's much prettier than those older jets like the F/A-18. Seems like its stealth capability looks much better than other multi-role fighters.

The F/A-18 is a perfectly functional air-superiority aircraft; as for stealth, you have the F-22. For ground attack, nothing beats the A-10, period.

Specialization is generally the better option than multi-role, simply because you end up with aircraft that perform poorly in multiple roles as opposed to excelling at one.

Right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

- Thucydides

There is a modern myth that people have always tended towards democracy, constitutions, electoral rights; but in truth, love of freedom has never been the predominant note of popular politics. At most times, popular demand has been for a strong government.

Oh yeah, I'm not saying the F/A-18 isn't a very functional aircraft. It's just not as pretty.

Met the ghost of Stephen Foster at the Hotel Paradise
This is what I told him as I gazed into his eyes
Ships are made for sinking, whisky made for drinking
If we were made of cellophane we'd all get stinking drunk much faster...

The F/A-18 is a perfectly functional air-superiority aircraft; as for stealth, you have the F-22. For ground attack, nothing beats the A-10, period.

I'd say the f-22 fills every air-to-air role (as far as the air force is concerned. It's too large for the navy). It's practically invisible, and it's damn near impossible to kill. On top of that, it's got munitions to throw at you for days.

I'd say the f-22 fills every air-to-air role (as far as the air force is concerned. It's too large for the navy). It's practically invisible, and it's damn near impossible to kill. On top of that, it's got munitions to throw at you for days.

This is true. The main function of stealth aircraft, however, is taking out SAM sites for the conventional aircraft like the A-10s and B-52s.

Right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

- Thucydides

There is a modern myth that people have always tended towards democracy, constitutions, electoral rights; but in truth, love of freedom has never been the predominant note of popular politics. At most times, popular demand has been for a strong government.